INDIANAPOLIS — In some ways, it doesn’t matter who Georgia’s National Championship victory came against. No feeling is going to top having confetti dumped on you as you’re the last team celebrating the season.

But for Georgia, there was added significance that the win came against Alabama. That it was the team that beat Georgia in rather embarrassing fashion just over a month ago. That it was an Alabama program that had beaten Georgia seven straight times.

Per Nick Saban, Georgia “kicked our a** in the fourth quarter.” When you can do that against that program, it certainly adds to what is already one of the best nights in program history.

“They’ve been the measuring stick. And I was a part of it for nine years and saw it,” Georgia coach Kirby Smart said. “And I know the preparation that goes into national championship games. So to do it and beat them, that’s special.”

Georgia played its best quarter of the season in the final quarter. The Bulldogs scored 20 points, more than it had scored in the previous six fourth quarters against Alabama combined. When it came down to winning team, Georgia for once made all the right plays.

Smart shared an anecdote about defensive tackle Julian Rochester. He’s the oldest member of the team and the last remaining member of Smart’s first signing class. He was with the team when Georgia lost to Alabama in the 2018 National Championship Game. Rochester cried after 2nd and 26, like some Georgia fans likely did as well.

There were tears of joy this time from the one they call Uncle Julian.

“When you want it for people in the room, it makes it a lot more special,” Smart said.

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Then there is Stetson Bennett. The Georgia quarterback who was told so frequently that a former walk-on couldn’t beat Alabama. Perhaps that makes his fourth-quarter performance all the better. It was a nervy game from Bennett at times, but he was at his best at the end of the game. He uncorked a dime to A.D. Mitchell to give Georgia a 19-18 lead. It was a massive response after his only turnover of the game.

Then on Georgia’s next drive, he found Brock Bowers for another touchdown to make it 26-18. He finished the game throwing for 224 yards on 26 attempts. In Georgia’s two College Football Playoff games, Bennett threw five touchdowns and zero interceptions.

“It’s just the fact that we won the National Championship, we beat Alabama, and we really did it for all the people who doubted us,” defensive lineman Travon Walker said. “We worked all year for this. We knew how good we were. We just had to prove everybody else.”

Alabama supporters will likely be quick to point out that star wide receiver Jameson Williams exited the game in the second quarter. If Georgia fans care enough to offer a retort, they could point out that Alabama’s first championship under Saban came after Texas quarterback Colt McCoy exited the game with a shoulder injury.

Monday’s win for Georgia will always be special for the program. It will be a memorable night for the program and one many associated with the university and state won’t forget.

The fact that Georgia also got the Alabama monkey off its back is the cherry on top of the best-tasting ice cream sundae you could ask for.

“Definitely, for me I went against Alabama three times, and winning this one, it’s my final game playing against them, it’s pretty sweet and pretty amazing,” defensive tackle Jordan Davis said. “They’ve got a talented team, and that was always the team that we couldn’t get over the hump for.”

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